Hurricanes beat Rebels in Melbourne

Melbourne’s Rebels made a statement last weekend by beating the Sharks 46-14 but this weekend they face a tough test against the Hurricanes.

The Hurricanes last weekend ended the Highlanders unbeaten run by beating the Dunedin side 29-12.

The Hurricanes have won their last five games against the Rebels, winning by an average margin of 33 points per game.

The Rebels have won their last three games on the bounce at home; however, the last time they won at home against New Zealand opposition was in Round 13, 2015 (L5 since).

The Hurricanes have won eight of their last nine games in Australia, including their last five; it is their longest winning streak in the country.

The Hurricanes have won nine turnovers per game this season, the equal most of any team in the competition alongside the Queensland Reds.

Jack Maddocks has been directly involved in seven tries this season (5 tries, 2 assists), more than any other player.

Match detail

We are waiting for the kick-off.

1.00: PEEEEP! We are underway in Melbourne.

2.00: The conditions are perfect at AAMI Park and the Hurricanes are using them perfectly, playing wide after some pick-and-drives.

3.00: PENALTY! Beauden Barrett puts the visitors in the lead with a simple penalty. 0-3

4.00: Big carry by Amanaki Mafi, who made two runs of 15 and 20 metres. Will Genia’s snipe around the ruck is halted because he kicked the ball away, however, the Rebels had a penalty advantage.

5.00: PENALTY! Jack Debreczeni levels the scores. 3-all

7.00: Beauden Barrett is already pulling out some tricks. The Hurricanes have good field position and possession. Reece Hodge tackled Julian Savea into touch.

9.00: The Hurricanes win a short-arm penalty at the lineout and opt for a scrum.

11.00: TRY! Ben Lam finishes in the corner after a turnover on the Rebels’ five-metre line. Sam Lousi’s tackle on Jack Maddocks set-up the turnover. The fullback tried to run out of his in-goal area and lost the ball. Marika Koroibete, who was sucked in by the Barrett bros combo, attempted tackle was in vain. 3-8

12.00: MISS! The conversion is wide. 3-8

15.00: PENALTY! Debreczeni adds another goal, but the Rebels got away with a soft penalty for offsides, and the Hurricanes had an intercept-try chalked off. 6-8

17.00: Some big runs from Maddocks and Billy Meakes, but the attack is halted for hands in the ruck by the Rebels.

18.00: Desperate defence from the Rebels; first Maddocks on Ricky Riccitelli, then Tom English on Savea. Jordie Barrett knocks on in contact, so scrum to the Rebels on their 5-metre.

20.00: The Rebels win the scrum-penalty at their first scrum. Hodge clears to halfway.

22.00: Lousi is pinged for going off his feet at the breakdown.

23.00: PENALTY! Debreczeni puts the Rebels back in front. 9-8

25.00: Another advantage for the Rebels. They are inside the Hurricanes’ 22 and have them under all sorts of pressure. Referee Angus Gardner has a word with Brad Shields about repeated infringements inside the red zone.

26.00: PENALTY! Debreczeni slots his fourth penalty of the half. 12-8

27.00: Mafi makes another run from deep; he looks knackered, already. Mafi has had 12 runs for 95 metres, averaging 72 metres per game. INSANE!

29.00: Jordie Barrett takes the ball out, is turned over by Meakes, and the Rebels attack. Genia’s cross-kick to English is not great because the wing and Koroibete’s switch-play almost stops the play.

30.00: TRY! Matt Philip. Meakes combined with Matt Philip for the lock’s try, however, the TMO is checking the grounding and a knock-on by Meakes. TMO says Riccitelli “punched the ball out of Meakes’ hands” – second Super Rugby try for the lock. 17-8

31.00: CONVERSION! Debreczeni is on fire! 19-8

33.00: The Hurricanes are awarded a penalty, and Beauden Barrett calls for the tee.

34.00: PENALTY! Beauden Barrett can’t miss from in front. 19-11

35.00: TRY! Lam is in for his second double in two weeks. Beauden Barrett’s high cross-kick caused the havoc. Debreczeni let the ball bounce and it wrong-footed the flyhalf. Koroibete’s misjudged tackle allows Lam to get away. 19-16

36.00: CONVERSION! It’s a one-point ball-game in Melbourne. 19-18

38.00: The Hurricanes go to the driving maul, but the Rebels repel the Kiwis and win the scrum for holding up the maul.

39.00: Mafi picks up at the back of the scrum, but he is tackled backwards over his own goal-line by TJ Perenara and Sam Henwood – scrum to the Canes, five metres out.

40.00: TRY! Outrageous by Beauden Barrett, who throws a dummy and ghosts through the Rebels defence to score under the posts. 19-23

41.00: CONVERSION! Barrett converts his five-pointer. 19-25

The half-time score was Rebels 19 Hurricanes 25

41.00: PEEEEP! We are back underway in Melbourne, Debreczeni restarts the game.

43.00: Perenar’s kick is gathered by Maddocks and sent out into touch. The Hurricanes have had a lot of territory and possession since Philip’s 30th-minute try.

44.00: Another penalty goes to the visitors after Richard Hardwick is pinged, twice, at the breakdown.